Knitting machine



Nov. 22, 1932. M. KUEHNE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY INVENTQR MarZmA ale/2124? Nov. 22, 1932. M. KUEHNE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTCR Mariizz fi'zie/me 6. WW

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 22, 1932 MARTIN K'UEHNE, OF FLORAL PAR-K, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK KNITTING MACHINE Application filed August 29, 1929. Serial No. 389,170.

This invention relates to knitting machines the positions of the parts after the other and has for its general object andpurpose of the jacquard controlled devices 'has' been to provide certain improvements in a jacactuated to effect the stitch forming operquard or flat type knitting machine such ation of the needle;

as is shown in Patent No. 1,718,295, issued Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan View of? to me on June 25, 1929. the machine; and

The essential feature of the present in- Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary perspective vention resides in the provision of two seview of a part of the jacquard mechanism. lectively operable means associated with each In the drawings, I have illustrated only 19 of the needles, either of which, when operso much of the machine as is necessary to a ated causes a stitch forming operation of the clear understanding of the present invention, needle in the subsequent operation of the and it is understood that the invention is machine; It is also an object of my present applicable to either a machine having two improvements to provide jacquard controlled needle beds for the knitting of a double faced mechanism for selectively effecting the stitch fabric as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, 5 forming operation of different groups of or may be employed on a single bed machine. needles, in which a very compact arrange- As the construction of both of the needle ment of the several elements is provided beds and the needle operating mechanism ,with means for insuring their proper operassociated therewith is the same in each iii- 20 ation by the jacquard mechanism and the stance, the detail description of one of the positive and reliable stitch forming actuamechanisms will suflice for both. As herein tion of the individual needles. shown, the needle bed which is suitably With the above and other objects in View, ed On the frame 5 0f the machine is the invention consists in the improved knitpositioned in an obliquely inclined'plane afnd ting machine and in the form, construction, preferably consists of a lower section 6 and and relative arrangement of its several parts an pper Secti 7- since the'section 6 o as Will be hereinafter more fully described, the needle bed is not Subjec o appreciable illustrated in th ccom n i d i wear due to lateral pressure of the needles or and subsequently incorporated in the subp i g p ts r n, I preferably mak 0 joined claims. this bed section in the form of an aluminum In the drawings wherein I have illustrated g- The other bed Section hOWeVeIB the essential features of a preferred embodi- Which is Subject t0 Considerable lateral P BS- ment of the invention and in which similar Sure y the movable needle p a ing p rt reference characters designate corresponding Constructed Steel- ThQSG'tWO e parts th h t th Several i tions are provided with suitably spaced Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view aligned slots as indicated at 8 andg p through one of the needle beds and a part of tively corresponding in {lumber to the th th dl b d f j d or fl t ber of needles and in which the needles have type knitting machine illustrating one form free shdlng movementf my i d h i Each needle 10 extends substantially the Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view through l length of h e s d 51019538 and 9 and the needle bed showing the relative positions at 1153 pp end 11215 P Wlth the usual of the parts after one of the iacks associated latch hook h h recelves y from n with each needle has been depressed to effect the y earner lndlc'ated 12 m 9 a stitch forming movement of the needle; the drawings- The lower end of theneedle Fig. 3 is a similar secti l i h i shank is bent and returned upon itself to the relative positions of the parts after the p vide a resilient y yieldabl p t n 13 needle has been moved in one direction to terminating in a downwardly projecting {0 rece ve the yarn; finger 14. Below this finger, the body por- Fig. 4 1s a similar sectional view showing tion of the needle shank has a bend 15 formed therein projecting toward but spaced from the part 13 of the needle. This bend provides a stop limiting the downward movement of a wire 16 which is superimposed upon the needle shank within the slots or grooves 8 and 9 of the needle bed. This lower end of the wire 16 is provided with an upwardly projecting finger ,17 positioned between the bend in the needle shank and the terminal finger 14 of the part 13. Intermediate of its ends and within the groove '9 of the needle bed section 7, the wire 16 is bent upon itself to form the upstanding lug 18 projecting above the upper surface of the needle bed section 7. ..:A,bove each .of; the needles, 2, pair ofjacks are; mounted pforz sliidingmovement relative .to.each-;other and .-with:respect to the needle and are adapted to be selectively positioned iwhereby onepr the :other-of said jacks is subsequently actuated to depress the part 13 of-the needleiandcause :the terminal finger 14 thereonto engagetheaupstanding finger 17 won, thedower:endof? the wirelfi. As herein i'shoWn, ,the. lower acki .of each a pair consists oftwo SGQUOIIS .19 and .20 respectively, the .section 19 ;bein-g'in.-.the forrnof a straight .rigid steel rod of suitable diameter slid-ably esupported in.a-slotted;bar 21 fixed tothe machine .fnameibelowthe needle bed. This rod extends intoone .o'f the slots of the needle bedfsections 7 :amdz-atits upperend is an .qpposed ebearingcontact -.against the lower arm-.of the,part..20 of the-jack whichis of ss ssu $tantially U-shaped i'form.-.as shown and hasritssspaced engaged: slidably 1 in slots provided in athe steel ,reinforcement ha-rs 22 .and .23 respectively which are suitably fixed toetheneedle bedfsection 8. The upper arms 40 iofithese parts .Qdterminate in upwardly prol'ji ctingfingers 24.

Between .the-;par.t 19. of the lowerjack-and the zrcsiliently yieldable portion 13 of the =needle,asep-aratingfWireQS is-interposed'and hamone ofzitsends provided withaa hook 126 engaged with-the wall of'the bed section-6 atithedoweriend of the slot -8 therein which permits of atilting or rocking movement of .said \wirerbut prevents its longitudinal -shift ing :Inovcment relative :to the needle bed. iIlhusishif-ting of the :needle relatively to the bed in :the slidingzmovement of the jack rod 19 is prevented. A'sirnilar relatively fixed separating wire Q'Z isfllsointerposed between the:upper'sideof'rod;19 of the lower jack and the downwardly :projecting upper end 29 oftheupperfjack 28 which is disposed in the same vertical planeasgthe lower jack rod 19 and ,is.sli dable through one of the slots in the steel reinforcing bar 30 secured to .thebed section-6. "This jack rod 28 is also provided with an upstanding finger 31, said IiQd lhing likewise movable ithrough one of itlie slots of .the .bar :21, :such .sliding movement of the rod 28 being yieldingly resisted by a suitable leaf spring indicated at 32.

1V hile the particular jacquard mechanism which operates upon the jack rods 19 and 28 constitutes no essential part of my present 2'9 invention, I have herein shown a rotatably supported drum 33 of any desired polygonal form in cross section. The jacquard cards which are flexibly connected together by means of suitable linksin the usual manner, 15 as -herein shown, are in the form of T-shaped bars 34, the central leg of which is adapted to project radially with respect to the center of the drum 33 when the head of said bar is positioned upon one of the faces of the drum 8 :as clearly shown inFig. -l of the drawings.

.Thisradially extended part of the bar 34 carvriestwo sheet metal strips 35 -and '36 respectively,-suitablysecured thereto and projecting-on opposite sidesof-the-bar. 'The longitudinal edge portions'of-these strips are spaced apartand said edges are transversely .slitor cut'at equally distant 'spacedp'oints :to provide bendable tongues 37 thereon.

These :tongues normally extend at right-00 angles to the opposite si'de faces of the central web of'the bar 34, and selected tongues of 'the spaced apartedges of the two metalstrips are adapted to beibent downwardly in parallel relation to the opposite'sides of the baras K clearly. shown'in 1F ig: 6 of. the dr-awings,= thus providing spaces to receive the lower: ends of the jack rods 19.and 28. It will, therefore,

be understood that in 1 the operation of "the .jzacquard.-mechanism, the individualneed-les mounted on the needlebedof-the-maehine will be selectively positioned in accordance with .the relation which the tongues-on'the edges of the -spaced metal strips bear'to each other 'and to.the head of the 1 shapedbars 3.4. ll husthe tongues of=the outermost strip 36'which have not been 'abent will strike the lower ends ofcertain of the jacks l9 and- 28 and thereby move the jack parts .28 and .20 to the highest positions on the needle bed. Where ftongues ofthis outer'strip have been bent downwardly but the opposed tongues 'of the strips 35 havenot been-correspondingly .bent, other jacks will strike ithese latter tongues and they will be movedto-the second or intermediate position, while in those instances where .the opposing tongues of the .two .metal strips have both been bent as shown .at .the .left of Fig. 6, the jack rods opposed thereto will not-be moved and will ;remain in the lower position. These 'three positions are indicated .by the lines A, B, and-.C-respectively in Fig. 5 of the drawings. A cam plate 38 is slidably mounted in any suitable manner for lon itudinal movement D over the two sections 6 and 7 of the needle bed. The under side OfthlS cam plate is provided 'on the lower portion thereof with two series of cam lugs or prejections 39 and 49 respectively, the cam lugs in each series if;

being arranged in pairs spaced from each other both transversely and longitudinally of the cam plate. The cam lugs 39 are adapted to cooperate with the fingers 24 of the jack parts 20, while the series of cam lugs 40 are adapted to cooperate with the fingers 31 on the jack rods 28. Above these series of cam parts 39 and 40, there is further provided upon the under side of the plate 38 and near its upper edge, the longitudinally spaced groups of cam projections indicated at 41, said projections in each group forming an inverted V-shaped cam way 42 similar to that shown in my issued Patent 1,718,295. It will further be noted that one pair of the cam lugs in each of the groups 39 and 40 is in alignment transversely of the plate 38 with one of the cam ways 42. These cam ways are adapted to receive the upwardly projecting parts 18 of the wires 16 associated with the individual needles so that in the movement of the plate 38 across the needle bed, sliding movement will be transmitted to certain of the needles whereby the desired stitches in accordance with the predetermined pattern will be formed.

In the operation of the mechanism above described, assuming that the pairs of jacks associated with each needle have been selectively actuated by the jacquard mechanism, it will be understood that the fingers 24 and 31 of the jack parts 20 and 28 are positioned in line with the path of movement of the several pails of cam projections 39 and 40 on the cam plate 38, as determined by the particular jacquard card which was moved into cooperative relation with the lower ends of the jacks, the cam plate 38 is now actuated and shifted over the surface of the needle bed. Assuming that this plate in Fig. 5 of the drawings is moving from left to right, it will be apparent that the three pairs of lugs 39 will engage the fingers 24 of the ack parts 20 which may have been moved to the positions indicated by the lines A, B, and C, while the other series of cam lugs 40 will engage the fingers 31 of the jacks 28 which are disposed in corresponding positions. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, when one of the lugs 39 engages a finger 24 on one of the parts 20, the upper arm of this jack part is depressed into the slot of the bar 22, the said jack part having its fulcrum bearing on the bar 23 at the lower end of the slot therein. The lower arm of this jack part is thus forced downwardly against the end of the wire 25 which in turn is in hearing contact upon the end portion 13 of the needle, thus depressing the terminal finger 14 and engaging the same behind the upstanding finger 17 on the wire 16. This resilient end portion of the needle will be depressed and similarly engaged with the lower end of the wire 16, when the finger 31 on one of the upper jacks 28 is engaged by one of the cam projections 40. The end 29 of this jack rod will bend the wire 27 downwardly, thus tilting or rocking the lower jack rod section 19 relative to the guide bar 21, and thereby depressing the end portion 13 of the needle.

In such operation of course the part 20 of the lower jack remains in normal position.

As the properly positioned jacks are thus operated in the sliding movement of the cam plate and the fingers 14 and 17 engaged with each other, the upstanding portions 18 of the rods 16 enter the cam ways 42 of the respective groups of cam parts on the upper portion of the plate 38 and by coaction with said cam parts, first shift the wires 16 and therefore also the needles which are interlocked therewith upwardly in the grooves or slots of the bed plate so as to cause the latch hooks 11 of such needles to engage and receive the yarn. After the projections 18 have moved I through the apex portions of the cam ways 42, such movement is reversed and the wires 16 are forced downward and the lower end of the said wires bearing on the projections or lugs 16 of the needle bars, also of course moves the needles downwardly in the slots of the bed plate as will be readily understood from reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, thus completing the stitch forming operation.

As in my issued patent, there is further provided at the opposite ends of the cam plate 38, on the under side thereof adjustable members 43, and as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. when the cam plate is moved from left to right, the members 43 at the left-hand 100 end of said plate beyond the cam projections 39 and 40 are disposed in an oblique inclination, while the members 43 at the right-hand end of the cam plate are positioned parallel to the path of movement of said plate and 105 above the respective series of cam projections 39 and 40. Thus after all of the needles have been actuated and at the end of the. movement of the cam plate 38, the edges of the obliquely inclined members 43 will engage the fingers 24 and 31 respectively of the two series of jacks and return said jacks to their normal positions with all of these fingers disposed in the same position horizontally of v the bed plate and below the respective series of cam projections 39 and 40, thus placing the jacks in position to be again actuated by another jacquard card.

As the cam plate is alternately shifted in opposite directions across the bed plate, it will be understood that the yarn carriers are automatically shifted to positions at relatively opposite sides of the apex portions of the cam ways 42. in the manner indicated in I my issued Patent 1.718.295.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and several advantages of my improved knitting machine will be clearly and fully understood, and it 130 will be apparent that by means of my present improvements, a greater range of selectivity in the knitting of multi-colored fabrics of intricate design, is obtained. It will also be seen that by means of the particular mounting and arrangement of the various cooperating elements of this mechanism that positive and reliable actuation of the individual needles is assured. However, while I have herein shown and described one practical embodiment of the essential features of my present improvement, it will nevertheless be understood that the same might also be in corporate-d in various other mechanical forms, and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a jacquard knitting machine, a needle bed and needles slidably mounted therein, an actuating member for each needle in constant superimposed contact throughout its length with the needle. means including a part angularly movable relative to the actuating member and the needle to connect the member and needle for unitary sliding movement on the needle bed, and a member movable over the needle bed provided with spaced operating means for said movable connecting parts and for the needle actuating members respectively.

2. In a jacquard knitting machine, a needle bed and needles slidably mounted therein. an actuating member for each needle superimposed throughout its length thereon, said needle having a part angularly movable relative to the needle axis to releasably engage a part on said actuating member and connect said needle and member for unitary sliding movement, jacquard controlled means associated with each needle for moving said part to a position to establish such connection, and a member movable over the needle bed provided with spaced operating means for said acquard controlled means and the needle actuating members respectively.

3. In a jacquard knitting machine, a needle bed and needles slidably mounted therein, an actuating member for each needle superimposed throughout its length thereon, said needle having a part angularly movable relative to the needle axis to releasably engage a part on said actuating member and connect said needle and member for unitary sliding movement, jacquard controlled means associated with each needle for moving said part to a position to establish such connection, the needle shank adjacent to said movable part having an angular projection for engagement by one end of the actuating member to move the needle in one direction, and a member movable over the needle bed provided with spaced operating means for said jacquard controlled means and the needle actuating members respectively.

4. In a jacquard knitting machine, a needle bed and needles slidably mounted therein, an actuating member for each needle superimposed thereon, the needle shank having a reversely bent resiliently yieldable end portion, said end portion of the needle and the actuating member having relatively movable parts for engagement with each other to connect said needle and actuating member for unitary reciprocating movement, the needle shank being further provided with an angularly projecting part for engagement by one end of the actuating member to move the needle in one direction, jacquard controlled means associated with each needle for moving one of the said parts to establish such connection, and a member movable over the needle bed provided with spaced operating means for said acquard controlled means and the needle actuating members respectively.

5. The knitting machine described in claim 4 in which said jacquard controlled means includes independently movable elements each adapted to act upon the resilient end portion of the needle and selectively movable by the same jacquard card to positions for engagement and operation at relatively different times by spaced parts of the operating means carried by said movable member.

6. In a jacquard knitting machine, a needle bed and needles slidably mounted therein, an actuating member for each needle superimposed thereon, the needle shank having a reversely bent resiliently yieldable end portion, said end portion of the needle and the actuating member having relatively movable parts for engagement with each other to con-- nect said needle and actuating member for unitary reciprocating movement, the needle shank being further provided with an angularly projecting part for engagement by one end of the actuating member to move the needle in one direction, jacquard controlled means asociated with each needle for moving one of the said parts to establish such connection, a member movable over the needle bed provided with spaced operating means for said jacquard controlled means and the needle actuating members respectively, said jacquard controlled means including independently movable elements each adapted to act upon the resilient end portion of a needle and selectivelymovableby the same acquard card to positions for engagement and operation at relatively different times by spaced parts of the operating means carried by said movable member, said operating means comprising spaced groups of cam projections, the projections in each group arranged in spaced pairs and out of alignment with each other for coaction with the respective selectively positioned elements of the jacquard controlled means.

7. The knitting machine described in claim 6 in which the operating means on said movable member for the needle actuating members comprises spaced groups of cam projections corresponding with the number of said spaced pairs of cam projections and providing cam Ways for receiving angularly projecting parts of said actuating members to impart reciprocating motion thereto.

8. The knitting machine described in claim 6 in which means are fixed upon the needle bed and interposed between the jacquard actuated elements and between one of said elements and the resilient end portion of the needle to prevent shifting of the needle in the actuation of said elements or the transmission of movement by one of said elements to the other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

MARTIN KUEHNE. 

